North Westside residents are shocked and upset after learning their fire chief and his lieutenant are being suspended.

The president of the North Westside Communities Association Wayne Nixon said he doesnsa国际传媒檛 know the reason for the suspension, and stated North Westside Fire Rescue (NWFR) fire Chief Jason Satterthwaite and Lt. Rob Gajda are under orders not to say anything, so they cansa国际传媒檛 confirm details either.

sa国际传媒淚 wasnsa国际传媒檛 really aware of the situation until a few days ago. Obviously, Isa国际传媒檓 very shocked. Jason has been our chief and hesa国际传媒檚 an incredibly well-respected person in our community,sa国际传媒� Nixon said.

He added some of the area residents attended the Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) offices on May 25 in time for a board meeting.

sa国际传媒淲e wanted to lend our support (to the men) in any way we can. In a small community, as we have here on the Westside, the fire department is our first responders. Not just for fire, but health issues and so many other things. So when that is disrupted, it has a huge ripple effect in our community.sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淲e know full well wesa国际传媒檙e heading into the fire seasonsa国际传媒� and people get very nervous about that. And when you take out your chief and the trainer for the rest of the group, itsa国际传媒檚 very very unsettling. Itsa国际传媒檚 not just unsettling to the community but unsettling to the rest of the volunteers.sa国际传媒�

He added that in the meantime, another volunteer has stepped up while Satterthwaite and Gajda are gone so fire hall operations donsa国际传媒檛 get too disrupted.

The RDCOsa国际传媒檚 communications officer Bruce Smith said the safety of the North Westside Fire Rescue remains a top priority, and that paid on-call members are still highly committed to responding to emergencies.

sa国际传媒淭here has not been any change in service provided by the fire department,sa国际传媒� he said.

sa国际传媒淒eputy Chief Mike Cantryn is leading the department in the short term and has the assistance and support of RDCO Fire Services Manager Ross Kotscherofski.sa国际传媒�

Smith added that as the situation is a human resources matter, the district cannot provide further details to respect the privacy of those involved.

In April, the NWFR were offered use of a residence in La Casa as a self-isolation house in case of potential exposure to the COVID-19 virus.

Gajda told Black Press firefighters were honoured by the offer, but the RDCO had to come to an agreement with the homeowner to ensure legal protections for all parties involved.

Smith told Black Press last month the RDCO would be in contact with the homeowner.

As for Nixon, he said hesa国际传媒檚 received many phone calls asking him what will happen.

sa国际传媒淚 donsa国际传媒檛 know whatsa国际传媒檚 going to happen. All I know is that our community is in support of the two gentlemen who have been suspendedsa国际传媒� Isa国际传媒檓 going to continue to support the fire team.sa国际传媒�

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